Mechanical pencil



April 16, 1940. 1 ,.1. Mos-r Y Re- 21,428

MECHANICAL PENCIL Original Filed July l5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Q3 W|44 ATTORNEY April 16, 1940. L. J. MosT MECHANICAL PENCIL Original FiledJuly 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ressued Apr. 16, v1940 UNITED STATES`'MTENT OFFICE No. 284,653, Illy l5, 1939.

ln'llary 3, 1940, Serial N0. 317,219

for reissue Fe s1 (um. (ci. 1z0-isi' The object of. the invention is toprovide a wholly enclosed interiorly threaded member for engaging a leaddirectly, and positioned between aligning lead guides of suchcross-section that it permits a lead to move longitudinally in saidguides while preventing it from turning, the said member and guidesbeing revoluble relatively to one another, but the member and the guidesare prevented from longitudinal movement relative to one another-withmeans for turning relatively the lead guides and the threaded member.'

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism formedof few moving parts, for propelling.

ically presenting a new lead to writing position.

' In the appended drawings forming part of this application, l

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section on line I-I,1'igure 3 of apencil embodying one form of my invention, the lead being removed tobetter illustrate the invention.

Figure 2 is an-enlarged cross-section on line 2 4. Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the mechanism for v the pencil, asillustrated u actuating the lead in inll'igurel.

Figure4isavertical section ofamechanicalpenciishowing .ture

of the lower part a modified struc- Fi'gure 5 is an enlargedcross-section on line I-I, l'lsure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section of a lower part of a pencil outline online C-I, Figure '1, showing a further modification.

Figure '1 is an enlarged cross-section on line 1, Figure 6.

8 is Figure 6, and

Figure 9 is fragmentary side elevation of an in er tubular part of thedevice shown in Pigure 6.

Referring to the drawings, Il is a barrel which is provided with acustomary tip II, and'it is made rigid with the barrel. The tip has alead 5 passage I! of angular cross section corresponding to theprismatic shape of a lead 9 used therein. In this particular case it istriangular in cross-section. Ihe lead passage I 2 'in the upper part ofthe tip is enlarged to forma housing for a tubular lead guide I3, theinner bore I4 of which is substantially the same in size andcrosssection as that of the lead passage I2. This lead guide I3 isanchored in the tip. Positioned on the lead guide and anchored theretoabove the tip Il is one end of a yoke I5. The other end retracting,expelling and automata similar cross-section on line.

of the yoke carries a second lead guide III in spaced relation with the'lead guide I3 and in alignment therewith. The yoke holds the two guidesin iixed relation.

A threaded member I1'is positioned in the 5 space between the leadguides I3 and It to revolve relatively thereto, but prevented to movelongitudinally of said guides. Preferably, the threaded member I1 isrecessed at its ends to engage the proximate ends of the lead guides I310 and Il respectively. This engagement of the threaded member with thelead guides provides the n bearings for said threaded memberonwhichitmayturn. Aswillbenoted, the threaded member is also located toturn within il the yoke II.

The threaded member I1 has on its lateral surface a plurality ofrecesses Il, each engaged by a corresponding yielding arm I9, the saidarms extending from a ring 2l, with which they form 20 a spider withyielding arms. '.l'he ring is secured to the lower end of a tube 2iextending past the end of the barrel remote from the tip.

' The tube 2| has an exterior bead 22 whichy bears against a ring 23-positioned within the 25 barrel Il. This ring, although it permits therotation of the tube 2i, in the barrel, prevents y the longitudinaldisplacement of said tube within the barrel. .'Ihe tube 2| carries aneraser 2l and a cap 2i, by which it may be revolved in either sodirection. Positioned in the tube '2l to move therewith is a washer 20recessed at its end to provide a bearing for the upper end of the leadguide Il.

As willbe seen three-arms I9 are shown in 85 engagement with thethreaded member I1. In revolving the tube 2l for actuating the lead '9,the spider arms II are constrained to revolve with the tube 2l, that is,the magazine. As any oi' the .arms Il strikes the upright of the yokeI5, at 40 a stationary cam 21 provided on the upright, it is forced outof engagement with the corresponding recess Il of the threaded member.Therefore, while there is one arm disengaged from the threaded memberpassing in the back of the upright of the yoke/I 5, the other twomembers are still in engagement and continue to revolve the threadedmember, and when-the disengaged arm has paed the upright of the yoke, itsnaps back into the corresponding recess. It, therefore, will beapparent that at no time during the manipulation of the drivingmechanism. can there be more than one arm I9 disengaged with thethreaded member I1, and the action is u identical no matter in whichdirection the magaaine is revolved.

In revolving the threaded member Il, the lead l is engaged directly byit as it passes from the magazine through tbe stationary guide It. Thethreaded engagement of the member l1 with the lead l, causes the lead tomove longitudinally of the threaded member, the lead being preventedfrom turning by the guides Il and It. Although in the turning movementof the threaded memberbytheetheremaybeoneofthe yielding arms uncoupledfrom the threaded member, there are always two other arms still coupledto rotate it so that at notime is there a complete uncoupling betweenthe magazine and the threaded member. lach yielding arm of the spidermay be considered to be a separate coupling means for independentlycoupling and uncoupling the threaded memberI i'l with the e formed bythe tube Il.

In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 inclusive, the tip 2l isrevoluble relatively to the barrel 2S. It is prevented from longitudinaldisplacement relative to the barrel by a washer 30, which forms aretainer for the tip in the barrel. The n an; 3| in the tip is ofangular crow-section and forms the guide for the lead.Tl'ieyokel'issecuredwithoneendthereofto the tip 2l to move therewith.The other end of the yoke carries the upper lead guide Il', which isaligned with the passage 3| and of the same size in contour and incrow-section. The interioriy threaded member l1' is positioned withinthe yoke and bears on the end of the guide Ii' and the end oi' the tip,that ere housed in the corresponding ends of the threaded member I1.Thus, the threaded member and the lead guides arerelatively revoluble.but prevented from moving longitudinally. The yielding arms i9' engagethe threaded member I'I' in the same manner as described with referenceto Figures l to 3 inclusive, but in place of having a ring joining them.they are preferably set in thewasheril'whichinthisparticularcaseisanchored in the barrel 2l. 'Dieguide IC' is revoluble in the washer 26'.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 when the tip 2l is revolved,the yoke 21 revolves therewith, and, therefore, the lead guide il'. Theyielding arms Il' will, therefore/be stationary relatively to the guidesand the threaded member engaged by them. Therefore, a lead carriedv bythe lead guide I6' will revolve therewith and be threaded through thethreaded member I8' and through the lead guide Il. During the rotationof the yoke there will always be two yielding arms in engagement withthe threaded member while one is being ed by la cam 21' provided on theyoke for the purpose. It is evident that the operation is identical withthat described for Figures l to 3 inclusive, .except that in thisparticular case, the yoke is revolved in place of revolving the threadedmember, as described in reference to Figures i to 3 inclusive.

v'll'he modiilcation shown in Figures 6 to 9 in- -the tube ll engage thetip of thelinion Il,

simllarcross-sectionasthepassaaeandin augment therewith. This e in thewasher forms with the passage 3i the spaced lead guida between which theinterioriy threaded member 35 isl positioned.

In addition, the tip son one side of the recesllnearthetophasarecessuwhichhousa pinion Il, the trunnion 42 of whichbears in thetip so that the pinion can freely rotate in the recess. Thepinion 4I is with an exterior gear Il formed in the body of the threadedmember 3S. Positioned within the barrel torevolve therein is a tube Mhousing the washer )I and revoluble relative thereto. The lower end ofthe tubebearsin anannularreces's' formed in the tip I3. 'lhls annularrecess I5 merges with the recess Il for the pinion, so that the teethformed on the lowerl end best shown in Figure 8. In revolving the M, thepinion is revolved. and, therefore interioriy threaded member' Ii.

To provide a smooth bottom for the formed by the tube M and the washerIl, a key 41 is positioned in the recess left in the tip between thetube u and the washa' II.

In all these structures illustrated and described, the interioriythreaded member is encled wholly in the barrel `and is positionedbetween the spaced aligning lead guides of such crssection that itpermits a lead to move nally in said guides while preventing the leadfrom turning therein with either the" guides of the threaded memberbeing revoluble relative to one another, while prevented from movinglongitudinally, with means for revolving relatively, the threaded memberand lead guides from an end of the barrel, as Irun the lateral access ofthe threaded member for the manipulation of same.

I claim:

l. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, aligning spaced lead guides ofangular c in the barrel, an interioriy threaded member positionedbetween the guides and wholly within the barrel to turn relatively tothe guides, but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, and meansto turn relatively the guides and the threaded member.

2.Inamechanicalpencil,abarrel,aligning spaced lead guides oi' angular inthe barrel, an interioriy threaded member positioned within the guidesto turn relatively to the guides, but prevented from movinglongitudinally thereof, and means to turn relatively the guides and thethreaded membu from an end of the barrel.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, aligning spaced lead guides ofangular cross-section in the barrel, an interioriy threaded memberpositioned between the guides and wholly within the barrel, and means toturn relatively the guides and the threaded member fran an end o thebarrel.

4. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a magazine for leads, spacedlead guides from the magazine having means inhermt to the shape of theguides for preventing a leadfrom turning therein while permitting thelead to movelongitudinally in said guides, an interioriy threaded memberpositioned between the guides. said guides and threaded member beingrelatively lrevoluble but prevented from moving longitudinally, aplurality of yielding means, each inde pendently coupling the magazineto the threaded member, and means for revolving relatively the threadedmember and lead guides from an end of the barrel.

5. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a magazine for leads, spacedlead guides from the magazine having means inherent to thecrosssectional contour of the guides for preventing a lead from turningtherein while permitting the lead to move longitudinally in said guides,an interiorly threaded member wholly within the barrel and positionedbetween the guides, said guides and threaded member being relativelyrevoluble but prevented from moving longitudinally oi one another, aplurality of yielding means, each normally coupling the magazine to thethreaded member, and each adapted to in- 'dependently uncouple themagazine from the threaded member when meeting an obstruction in thepath of its movement, and means for revolving relatively the threadedmemberand the guides from an end oi' the barrel.

6. In a mechanical pencil. a barrel having magazine for leads in thebarrel, spaced lead guides from the magazine, a yoke for maintainingsaid lead guides in iixed spaced relation, said guides havingmeansfinherent to the crosssectional shape of the guides adapted toprevent the lead from turning therein while permitting it to movelongitudinally, an interiorly threaded member positioned between theguides to revolve relatively thereto, but prevented from movinglongitudinally thereof, a plurality of yielding means coupling thethreaded member to the magazine, with each of said yielding means beingadapted to clear the yoke independently, and means for revolving theyoke and the threaded member relatively to one another.

7. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble in'the barrel, spaced lead guides from the magazine having means inherentto the shape of the guides for preventing the lead i'rom turning thereinwhile permitting the lead to move longitudinally in said guides, aninteriorly threaded member positionedh between the guides to revolverelatively thereto, but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof,and a plurality o! yielding means, each independently coupling themagazine to the threaded member.

8. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble inthe barrel, spaced lead guides tromthe magazine having means inherent tothe cross-sectional contour of the guides for preventing the lead fromturning therein while permitting the lead to move longitudinally, athreaded member positioned between the guides to turn relatively to theguides,

but prevented from moving longitudinally thereoi', and a plurality ofyielding means, each normally coupling the magazine to the threadedmember. and each adapted to independently uncouple the magazine from thethreaded member when meeting an obstruction in the path of its movement.

9. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble inthe barrel, spaced lead guides from the magazine. a yoke for maintainingsaid lead guides in iixed spaced relations, said guides having meansinherent to the crosssectional shape oi' the guides adapted to prevent alead from turning therein while permitting it to move longitudinally, athreaded member positioned between the guides to revolve relativelythereto but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, and aplurality of yielding means coupling the threaded member to themagazine, each oi' said yielding means adapted to clear the yokeindependently.

10. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble inthe barrel, spaced lead guides of angular cross section from themagazine, a yoke for maintaining the guides in xed spaced relation, athreaded member positioned between the guides to revolve relativelythereto but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, a spiderhaving yielding arms coupllng the magazine to the threaded member, andwhereby the threaded member is revolved.

11. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a lead outlet. a pair oflead guides of angular cross section, a yoke spacing and aligning theguides in the barrel and with the outlet, a magazine revoluble in thebarrel for feeding leads to the guides, a threaded member for engaging alead directly positioned between the guides revoluble relatively theretobut prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, and a spider havingyielding arms, each coupling themagazine to the threaded member.

12. .In a mechanical pencil, a Vbarrel having a lead outlet, a pair ofaligning spaced lead guides of angular cross section in the barrel fordirecting leads through the outlet oi the barrel, a yoke engaging saidguides for maintaining the same in a ixed relation, a threaded memberfor engaging the lead directly positioned between the guides andrevoluble relatively thereto but prevented from moving longitudinallyof' said guides. a magazine for feeding leads to the guides, and aplurality of yielding coupling means from the magazine to the threadedmember, each of said yieldingcoupling means being adapted to disengagethe magazine from the threaded member as it comes in contact with theyoke.

13. In a .mechanical pencil, a barrel having a lead outlet, a pair ofaligning spaced lead guides oi' angular cross section in the barrel fordirecting leads through the outlet of the barrel, a yoke engaging saidguides for maintaining the same in a nxed relation, a threaded memberfor engaging the lead directly positioned between the guides andrevoluble relatively thereto but prevented trom moving longitudinally ofsaid guides, a tube revoluble in the barrel, a washer in said tubesecured thereto and forming a bearing i'or the proximate end oi' thelead guide, and torming with said tube and washer a magazine for leads.and a spider having yielding arms secured to said tube to movetherewith. each of said arms of the spider engaging the threaded member.and each adapted to independently engage and disengage said threadedmember when a spider arm encounters the yoke.

14. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a lead magazine revoluble therein,spaced lead guides of angular cross section from the magazine, an

interiorly threaded member wholly within the barrel positioned betweenthe guides and revol luble relatively to said guides but prevented frommoving longitudinally thereof, an exterior gear constrained to revolvewith the threaded member a gear associated with the magazine, and apinion interposed between the gear oi' the magaxine and the gear of thethreaded member.

15. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, spaced lead guides of angularcross section positioned within'the barrel, an interiorly threadedmember wholly positioned within the barrel and mountedrotativelybetweenthegnidesbutprevmtedfrom mom.|... ,anexteriotgearformedonthethreadedmem .atuberevolublymoimtedinthebarreiandhavingteethtormedattheiowerendthereoi'.apinionmeshingwiththeteethofthetubeandthegearoi'thethreaded member. and a washer seemed tothe upper guideandpositionedwithintbetubeandfonning therewithamagaaineforleads.

iB InameehanioalpendLaban'elhavingalublymountedinthetipandinalignmentwith the passage. a tuberevoiubiymountedwitbin thebarrelandbearlngonthetipwithitslower end, awasher positioned within the tip abovethethreadedmemberandhavingapassageoiangularcross-sectioninelignmentwiththepassageintbe tip,andmeanswithinthetipinterposed between the threaded member and thetubesothatthethreadodmemberwillberevolved when the mbe is revolved.

17.Inamechanicalpencil,abarrelhavinga magazine for leads, spaced leadguides of angularcroessectioniromthemagaaine.ayokerormaintainingtlieguidesiniixedspaeedrelation,l

theyokeandforming withabarrelamagasine' for leads. and yielding armsassociated with the washer and engaging the threaded member torpreventingthesametromturningwhentheyohs isturnedbytheturning of the tip.

19. In a mechanical pencil. a barrel, aligning spaced lead guidesin thebarrel having means inherent to the shape of the guides for preventing alead from turning therein while permitting the lead to movelongitudinally in said guides, an 1o interior-ly threaded memberpositioned between the guides and wholly within the barrel to turnrelatively to the guides but prevented imm moving longitudinallythereof. and means to turn relatively the guides and the threadedmember. 1g

20. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, spacedleadguidesinthebarrelhavinginherent to the cross-sectional contour of'thasi guide adapted toprevent a lead from turningi thereinwhile permitting the lead tovmovelonn gitudinally in said guide, an interiorly threaded member positionedbetween the guides and wholly within the barrel. and means to turnrelatively the guides and the threaded member from an end o! the barrel.

2l. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a lead magazine revoiuble therein.spaced lead guides from the magazine having means inherent to the shapeofthe guide for preventing a lead from turning therein while permittingthe lead to so move longitudinally in said guides, an interiorlythreaded member wholly within the barrel positioned between the guidesand revoluble relatively to thesaid guides but prevented from movinglongitudinally thereof, an exterior gear oonas strained to revolve withthe threaded member, a gear ted with the magazine, and a pinioninterposed between the gear oi.' the magazine and the gear of thethreaded member.

LUCIFER J. MOST.

